My wife &amp; I had an awesome (despite the rather warm temps) w/e down in the "wine country" of the Shawnee National Forestof Southern Illinois &amp; I thought I would finally get around to posting a few.

Hope ya enjoy!

#1 - was mid-afternoon &amp; about 98 out so I applied an 80 cool filter in pse3 to get the blue right...with the kit lens

#2 ... is a 111ft tall cross which was built in 1963 (I think) atop Bald Knob Mt. (which is only 1000ft above sea level...but it is IL) needless to say it is in need of some love &amp; care &amp; replacement panels but it is still impressive no the less. Also taken mid-afternoon with the kit &amp; added the cool 80 filter to lessen that hot sun behind it.

#3...some of the swallowtail b'flies that I found below the cross (never have seen so many swallowtails at 1 time inmy life!!!) Taken with my SIgma 70-300...someday it'll grow up to be Roger's Bigma but for now!!!

#5...Need some help on this one. Not sure what it is. We noticed it while on a hike in one finest cypress swamps in IL. 1st time that I can say that I was in a swamp but it was really beautiful &amp; oddly enough, no mosquitoes...at least while we were there.